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Botha Wine Cellar
Area Conserved : 1776 ha
Wine District : Breedekloof
Contact Person : Mynhardt Marais
Phone : (023) 355 1740
Membership Date : 16 January 2007
Biodiversity highlights:
Area conserved – 1776ha.Botha Wine Cellar became the fourth co-operative cellar to obtain BWI status. Being one of the largest co-operative cellars in South Africa they bring with them some 68 members, who will all be implementing the BWI biodiversity guidelines in future. On the five priority farms alone Botha members conserve some 1776 ha of mostly pristine natural vegetation. This area includes two private nature reserves, both conserving the endangered veldtype, Breede Alluvium Fynbos. The critically endangered Geometric tortoise also still occurs in these areas.
Crushing between 30-35 000 tons of grapes per year (an equivalent of more than 24 million litres of wine), Botha Winery is one of the largest wine producers in South Africa (68 members, owning 41 farms). The co-operative was established in 1949 and is situated in the beautiful Breede River Valley. The Waaihoek Mountains to the east and the Breede River to the west hem the valley. Of the 7000 ha of land owned by Botha members, 1776 ha (23%) is still covered by natural vegetation. Of this 193 hectares are already managed as private nature reserves. The biodiversity features on the five priority farms are as follows:
1. Onderplaas of Mr. Alwyn Naude: Onderplaas was specifically chosen for its Private Nature Reserve. A full-time conservation officer manages the reserve. This reserve has a dual purpose of conserving both the endangered Breede Alluvium Fynbos, which is currently hardly protected, as well as the endangered Geometric tortoise ((Psammobates geometricus). It is estimated that there are presently only two to three hundred of these tortoises remaining.
2. Wilgevlei of Viljoen Hugo: Wilgevlei was chosen for its pristine Mountain Fynbos, covered for the most part by the vulnerable Breede Shale Fynbos. A special feature of this vegetation is the presence of the beautiful bulb Nerina sarniensis or Guernsey Lily within the confines of this mountain valley. Such is the beauty of this plant that Botha is currently considering using this geophyte as part of their marketing campaign. Nerine sarniensis is widely considered to be the most beautiful of all the Nerines and has an equally colourful history. The often-told, but unlikely tale of how boxes of bulbs of South Africa’s most famous Nerine, consigned for Holland, were cast away from a sinking ship in 1659 and took root and flourished on the shores of Guernsey in the Channel Islands, has become something of a botanical legend. This early winter flowering bulb with bright red flowers is restricted to rocky mountain slopes in the Western Cape from Citrusdal to Caledon, where it grows on south and north facing slopes.
3. Vergenoegd of Mr. Francois Kloppers: Vergenoegd was again chosen for its almost unspoilt Breede Shale Fynbos, which together with Wilgevlei and the adjacent farmers might eventually lead to the management of the mountain areas under the control of the Botha Co-op members as one conservation area.
4. Roodeberg of Mr. Gerrie & Christie van Zyl: Roodeberg was also chosen for its almost pristine Mountain Fynbos and include both Breede Shale fynbos as well as South Hex Sandstone Fynbos higher up on the mountain slopes.
5. Morgenrood of Mr. Petrus van Rensburg: Morgenrood was chosen for its Private Nature Reserve, which apart from supporting various antelope and the endangered Geometric tortoise, also serve as a reserve for endangered Breede Alluvium Fynbos. Conservation has been a priority amongst the members of Botha cellar and conservation awareness continues to increase. Conservation actions to conserve these unique natural areas will be ongoing and in future all members with natural areas on their farms will be included in Botha’s conservation area.
© BWC
Natural area
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